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Four Things I Learned This Week (July 14)

It’s Bastille Day today! Celebrate this weekend. The Alliance Française de Portland is celebrating the French national holiday with the 21st Annual Bastille Day Festival on Saturday, July 15. “In 1789 the French stormed the Bastille prison, marking the birth of the modern French nation. The storming of the Bastille symbolizes the key values of Liberté, Fraternité, and Egalité, which endure in the hearts of the French people.” Head to Jamison Park in the Pearl between noon and 6pm to celebrate French culture—music, dancing, food and drink, and good time with friends and family. 810 NW 11th Avenue, Portland

Nico’s Cantina now has mocktails. Starting yesterday, Nico’s Cantina has mocktails on their drink list. I tried two of them and they were delicious. Here’s what they have:

  • El Toro: tamarind, lime juice, ginger beer
  • La Isla: jamaica, pineapple juice, lime juice
  • Picoso: grapefruit juice, lime juice, jalapeño, soda water
  • Cafecito: cold brew, lemon juice, simple syrup
  • NA Margarita: everything but the (boozy) tequila (they’ll be using NA tequila when it arrives)
  • Seasonal: always changing

I really enjoyed the El Toro and La Isla. These drinks are a tasty option for those of us who do not drink. 4318 NE Cully Blvd, Portland

Indio de Oro Mexican restaurant coming to old Grain & Gristle space. The building on the NW corner of Prescott and NE 15th will get a new tenant in the old Grain & Gristle space, which closed May: Indio de Oro, a new Mexican (not New Mexican) restaurant. Though there’s not many details out there yet, it looks like the people associated with Indio de Oro have also been part of Puerto Mazatlan in Ashland. I’ve reached out for more info. 1473 NE Prescott Street, Portland

More seafood is coming to 82nd Ave. Ocean City Seafood closed during the pandemic; New City Seafood is opening up in its place. An online work request described the restaurant as this: “The restaurant is 5,000 sq ft, and is the type of Chinese Restaurant that holds big events at night like weddings and company parties. During the day, it is a Dim Sum restaurant.” I suspect this will be good news for dim sum fans in Portland. 3016 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland

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Personally Bummed: Lazy Susan Is Closing July 23

Mennonite Peanut Butter Pie—one of the best desserts in Portland.

I saw the news on their Instagram today: Lazy Susan is closing; Sunday, July 23 is their final day of service. This is a surprise to me, as it seemed—judging from the difficulty in getting a walk-in table—that they were doing ok. And as the headline says, I am personally bummed about this closure.

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The Snug Is Coming to Madison South

Future home of The Snug at 6806 NE Broadway (second door from the left). Photo credit: Google Maps

A new bar/restaurant called The Snug is preparing to open up on NE Broadway in that little corner of Madison South near the Pacific Market and next door to Budding Culture, a black-owned and operated cannabis shop. The Snug will offer a family-friendly space serving food and drink, as well as games and live music.

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La Moule Will Close at the End of July 2023

Mussels at La Moule, in meta fashion. Photo credit: La Moule

Via Michael Zusman’s Facebook page I was tipped off to the impending closing of La Moule, a sweet European-style spot in SE Portland (described on their Instagram as “Frenchy food, beautiful cocktails, famous wallpaper & a penchant for quirk”) serving mussels, Belgian beer, and more. They will close at the end of July.

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